Energy Ministry and Air Products sign several documents.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan hosted a meeting of Minister Alisher Sultanov with the president of Air Products Corporation (USA) Mr. Seyfi Gasemi, the press service of the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan said.

At the meeting, Air Products and Uzbekneftegaz signed an agreement on the Conditions for Creating a Joint Venture for the Production of Industrial Gases and a Memorandum of Understanding on the Study of the Possibility of Organizing the Production of Helium from Natural Gas.

Within the framework of cooperation with Air Products, the issue of joint implementation of an investment project for the deep processing of natural gas based on methanol to olefins (MTO) technology and the production of petrochemical products with high added value is also being worked out.

“I can say that this is the first time in the history of our company, when from the moment of the first memorable meeting with officials and before the signing of the agreement it took so little time. This, of course, speaks of the very coordinated work of our working teams. Air Products operates in 50 countries of the world, but in its history for the first time such a rapid and successful development of partnerships” - Seyfi Ghasemi said.

The head of the American corporation also said that the delegation of Air Рroducts during this visit includes practically the entire top composition of the company, which shows a commitment to active cooperation and the solution of all questions raised.

He noted that the corporation currently sees five main areas of cooperation with Uzbekistan, the first of which is work within the framework of a joint venture on industrial gases, an agreement about which was signed during the meeting. Work has begun on the study of projects for the organization of helium production, the construction of an ammonia and urea plant, and a large-scale project "methanol to olefins," in which the company expressed interest in participating with leading world companies.

“In other words, we have clear joint plans, we have specific projects on which we would like to work together. We are ready, able and willing to move forward, ”said the head of the company.

Founded in 1940, Air Products Corporation is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of process gases and gas synthesis, a supplier of equipment for oil and gas processing, metallurgy, and electrical engineering.

According to Air Products, the Republic of Uzbekistan at the present stage of its development is particularly attractive because the most promising area for foreign direct investment is the oil and gas and petrochemical sector, especially in the field of hydrocarbon raw materials processing and the production of high value-added products.